Birchbox – Confessions of a Beauty Box Addict

A few friends were talking about Birchbox with some excitement one day, so of course I had to figure out exactly what Birchbox was, and now I’m hooked. The image above is my January beauty box; I’ll post December’s box below. Admittedly, I authorized my first $10 transaction with some hesitation, but when my first box arrived, I decided that just the anticipation of the package is worth at least $2. I wanted to see if I would be impressed enough to actually order a second box, and I was surprised to discover how much I enjoyed the first box. This situation sort of reminds me of when I went through rush week in college just to check out the weird sorority chics, but then ended up becoming one.

I do need to let you know that you can’t just sign up for this service; you have to be invited, but if you are interested, this link will allow you to order a beauty box without having to wait. I started my own membership by requesting an invitation, and I believe it took a few weeks before I was able to order my first box, so my referral link will get you in faster. Referring friends is also a way to earn points which can ultimately be redeemed for free products. Birchbox also sends out a decent number of emails with promo codes for bonuses with your order, and any order over $35 also qualifies for a free sample pack (the pack comes with two samples & I scored a really nice facial scrub in one of mine), but you have to make sure you add the free sample pack to your cart.

I’ve been very pleased with the quality of the samples I’ve received thus far, and I have even ordered more of the Klorane Gentle Dry Shampoo with Oat Milk and Camille Beckman Body Butter from my December box. I will say that the 100% Pure Fruit Pigmented Mascara ran all over my face, but I must have rubbed my eyes to cause that to happen; I have not yet tried the Serge Normant Meta Revive Dry Conditioner or Paula’s Choice RESIST BHA 9 for Stubborn Imperfections, but at least the next time I have a stubborn imperfection, I’ve got some ammo.

I am going to continue to order my beauty boxes on a monthly basis. They are also available for men, but the price point is $20/month instead of just $10/month for women. If you buy a full year at once, you can save a little; the men’s full year is $195 and women’s full year subscription is $110. The best part of the service is that they cater your samples to you based on a profile you create that indicates if you want more body & bath products; fragrances; haircare products; makeup products; nail polishes; or skincare products. You can also select if you want beauty-related tools; products for a busy mom; products for the home; organic and natural products; savory snacks; small accessories; sweet treats; and/or wellness-related items, and your profile may be adjusted at any time. I’m not interested in fragrance samples, and Birchbox has assured me I won’t get more than 6 in a year, but so far – to my delight – I have not had any. They also ask about hair type, ethnicity, complexion, etc. to help send samples that will work for the subscriber. If you try it out (or if you already have a subscription), I’d love to hear about your experience with Birchbox, and if you like it as much as I do!

By Mary Salmon

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